Translator: CinderTL
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The defeat on the Usola Plains had ignited a unanimous and fervent desire for revenge throughout the Gabella Empire.
Situated at the heart of the continent, connecting the east and west, Gabella's unique geographical position made it a true crossroads of conflicts, fostering a national character that revered martial prowess.
Fortunately for the empire, successive emperors had managed to strike a delicate balance between military campaigns and periods of rest, allowing the flames of militarism to burn brightly within the furnace of reason, never consuming the entire nation.
The defeat on the Usola Plains had unleashed those flames. The empire had not suffered such a catastrophic loss in over a century.
Amidst the calls for vengeance, another voice grew loud: the demand to hold Woven Ruiz and other military commanders accountable. These seasoned nobles, relying on their lineage, had seized high positions in the military, but their capabilities fell far short of their roles. They had brought defeat and disgrace to the empire and deserved severe punishment.
Emperor Antonio Griffin temporarily suppressed these voices, stating that now was not the time for assigning blame. The most pressing task was to unite and defeat the Church.
As Gabella prepared a new army, heated debates also erupted among the Church's military leadership.
In a frontier city of the Gabella Empire, the Church's forces had just taken control.
In the grand hall of the former lord's castle, the flickering candlelight illuminated the tense faces of the Church's generals.
They had achieved victory, but what to do next was a matter of contention.
One faction argued that the Church should press its advantage and push deeper into Gabella, striking directly at its capital, overthrowing the nation that defied divine will, deposing Emperor Antonio Griffin, and installing a puppet ruler—or even taking direct control of the empire.
Another faction believed they should consolidate their hold on Gabella's border regions. These areas were close to the Church's traditional sphere of influence, making supply lines convenient. They could wait for Gabella to attempt to reclaim its lost territory, then crush their efforts repeatedly, steadily draining the empire's strength until it was forced to bow and acknowledge the Church's religious authority once more.
The offensive and the conciliatory factions were deadlocked, and all eyes turned to the silent old general, Webster, hoping for his support.
After the defeat in the Horn Bay, Webster and his men had been ransomed by the Church and immediately thrown into the campaign against Gabella.
As a defeated general, Webster felt he bore responsibility for the loss of Horn Bay. When voices suggested he continue as the commander of the offensive against Gabella, he firmly declined.
Instead, he was appointed as deputy to the new commander, Selvyn Hammond, offering his extensive military experience as an advisor.
While the others debated, Webster remained silent, standing before a massive map, deep in thought. Noticing the collective gaze upon him, he sighed.
Then he spoke his mind: "I do not advocate advancing further. It's too far! Many of the War Elephants in the legion are already in poor health, and pushing deeper into the empire will only worsen their condition."
The conciliatory faction, gaining the support of a seasoned veteran, smiled with relief.
But the offensive faction's key figure—Anthony Edwards, the Church's youngest cardinal deacon—slammed the table and stood up, his voice thundering through the hall: "We have achieved a glorious victory on the Usola Plains! This is a gift from the Father! Are we to abandon this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because of a few ailing War Elephants? We must press our advantage, strike at the heart of the Gabella Empire, and force their emperor to kneel before the Church's banner!"
His words rallied the offensive faction, who chanted, "Advance! Advance! For the glory of the Lord of Light!"
Webster, his hair now streaked with more white since returning from Horn Bay, slowly rose to his feet. His gaze swept across the room, and though his voice was not as booming as Anthony's, it carried undeniable authority: "Anthony, your passion is admirable, but your recklessness could cost us our victory. The War Elephants are our most powerful weapon, and now they are ill from the unfamiliar terrain. Pushing deeper would only lead to their unnecessary sacrifice. If we march to the capital, we risk losing them entirely. Their growth and training cycles are long, and rebuilding their strength could take years. But if we hold the border, we can rotate the elephants in battle, sending the sick ones to recover in the rear. This ensures we retain this formidable force."
The conciliatory faction nodded in agreement, murmuring about the preciousness and irreplaceability of the War Elephants.
The debate between the two factions grew fiercer, their words clashing like swords. The offensive faction accused the conciliatory side of timidity and missed opportunities, while the conciliatory faction countered that the offensive side was blind to reality and recklessly aggressive. The atmosphere in the castle hall grew so tense it seemed ready to ignite, with both sides fiercely defending their positions, unwilling to yield an inch.
Commander Selvyn Hammond, deeply troubled, eventually proposed a compromise: consolidate control over Gabella's border, wait for the enemy to attack, and if they could achieve another decisive victory in the next battle, he would lead the army straight to the empire's capital.
Half a month later, the Church's forces clashed with Gabella's army once more.
This army did not come from the capital. The new force ordered by Emperor Antonio and led by MacDonald, along with the crucial support of the Flame Dragon Legion, was still in preparation. Instead, this army was assembled from various territories along the Church's likely invasion route, gathered spontaneously by local lords.
Though it was a force of local lords, its numbers and armament were not far inferior to the capital's army. To nations beyond Gabella, it was still a formidable force. The lords vowed to reclaim the empire's glory.
However, unfortunately, under the might of the Church's War Elephants, this Gabella army suffered yet another devastating defeat.
The elephants charged into the Gabellan ranks, trampling knights clad in plate armor, turning them into grotesque mixtures of metal and flesh. The sheer terror of their power quickly shattered the soldiers' will to fight, sending them fleeing chaotically across the battlefield. The Church's other units seized the opportunity, capturing entire formations of enemies en masse.
In short, the Church achieved another glorious victory.
Commander Selvyn Hammond fulfilled his promise to the offensive faction—he launched an advance deeper into the Gabella Empire.
(End of the Chapter)
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